It seems the drama within the Democratic Party hasn’t cooled down, and the fallout from President Joe Biden’s decision to bow out of the race last July is still making waves. At the heart of this political soap opera is a rift between First Lady Jill Biden and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, two women who were friends for half a century. But after Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering helped push Joe Biden to step aside, that friendship appears to have taken a major hit.
Jill Biden, in a rare and candid moment during an exit interview, didn’t shy away from expressing her disappointment. Reflecting on the events that led to her husband’s withdrawal, she admitted, “Let’s just say I was disappointed with how it unfolded. I learned a lot about human nature.” While she didn’t name Pelosi outright at first, the sting of betrayal was clear when she later addressed her long-standing relationship with the former Speaker: “We were friends for 50 years. It was disappointing.”
This tension stems from Pelosi’s role in calming a panicked Democratic Party following Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in a Georgia debate back in June. Reports suggest that Pelosi acted as a messenger for Democrats who were deeply concerned about Biden’s ability to carry the ticket.
With the stakes as high as ever—control of the House, Senate, and White House—Pelosi appeared to have made the call that drastic action was needed to preserve the party’s chances. Publicly, she maintained that she trusted Biden to make the right decision, but behind closed doors, she reportedly nudged the president toward stepping aside.
The fallout didn’t end there. After Biden announced his withdrawal in mid-July and endorsed Kamala Harris, Pelosi was quick to voice her disapproval of how it all unfolded. In interviews, she doubled down on her belief that Biden should have exited earlier, allowing for a competitive primary rather than defaulting to Harris as the nominee.
“Had the president gotten out sooner, there may have been other candidates in the race,” Pelosi said, alluding to potential names like Michelle Obama, Gavin Newsom, or Gretchen Whitmer.
This post-election critique didn’t sit well with the Bidens, especially Jill. Mary Doody, a close family friend, said the First Lady saw Pelosi’s actions as “mean” and “disrespectful.” “Joe Biden did not deserve that,” Doody added.
Pelosi, ever the seasoned politician, tried to frame her actions as pragmatic. “Winning an election is a decision,” she explained, emphasizing that the party needed a candidate who could mobilize voters and build momentum. But her acknowledgment that Harris might not have been the strongest candidate in an open primary seemed like another veiled jab at the final ticket.
As the dust settles, it’s clear that the relationship between Jill Biden and Nancy Pelosi may never be the same. What was once a close bond between two Democratic power players has been fractured by political strategy, competing loyalties, and the fallout of a bruising election season.
Whether the Bidens and Pelosi can mend fences remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the ripple effects of Biden’s decision to step aside will likely shape Democratic Party dynamics for years to come.
